May 9, 2006 Open and fair selection

In April and May committee meetings, I suggested that Hamblen County use RFP's (Requests for Proposals) in securing the services of architects and engineers.

Using RFP's for these services is permitted by state law. Also permitted is the current process which has been to select someone and execute a contract with him or her without asking for information or reviewing the qualifications of other firms.

What is an RFP? A Request for Proposals means that the county would ask all interested architectural and engineering firms to submit information about their company when a county building is built or renovated.

In a basic RFP, each architect or engineer would list the firm's name, personnel and their qualifications/ experience, years in business, projects completed, insurance information, and, optionally, the proposed fee for services.

The county would then consider the various proposals, interview selected firms, and choose the best qualified.

It's all a rather straight-forward process that is used by many counties, school boards, and other government groups. Each government adapts the basic features of an RFP to its particular project requirements.

I brought two RFP's to yesterday's Construction Oversight Committee (one had been used by the City of Morristown), and we discussed them.

I asked for comments and changes that commissioners might think were needed to come up with a basic architectural/engineering RFP for Hamblen County.

Taking the input and comments from commissioners, I will prepare a general RFP format for consideration at the May Commission meeting.

The Commission, of course, will always have the option of requesting more detailed information from interested architects and engineers for large and/or very complex projects.

In the final analysis, the issue is not about the questions on an RFP. The questions can change and be adapted for each project.

The issue is whether the county will use an open RFP process that asks and allows qualified architects and engineers to submit their proposals and qualifications for full and fair consideration by the county.